Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

A/N: This chapter is going to be good. I have been planning this chappie for about two weeks. Now it is time to put it into story form on the page.

~*elvish princess*~ -Very sorry, but you are right about who the girl is. Have you been reading my mind? Hope that this chapter meets your expectations.

Chapter Seven

'Lathtobeth, it is I. Do you not know me?' The girl tried to look me in the eye, but I could not meet her gaze. It was not proper for a slave to look anyone in the eye, be it slave or master it was not acceptable.

Our hands were bound with a tough rope that cut the skin. She lifted her hands and cupped my chin with them and made me look her in the eye. The girl had such a pretty face, so young and innocent. I tried to remember what it had been like when I had first become a slave, but I could not remember that time in my long life.

'It is you, Lathtobeth. I know your eyes, they are the same as they always were. You do not know me do you?' Her eyes held a compassion I had long forgotten. Memories long lost came back, flooding my mind. Some pleasant then there were some that were not so pleasant.

A face floated before me. It was that of a young elfling, my niece. Now, what was her name? I tried so hard to remember what she had been called. 'Arwen,' I softly breathed.

Somehow the young elf next to me picked up what I had said. 'What was that name you said?'

'Arwen,' I said a little louder this time. 'I had a niece named Arwen. Do you know her? Is she well?' After being in slavery for many years beyond count I was suddenly hungry for word of the outside world.

'Yes, I know her. For it is she who you are talking to....' Her words were cut of by a sharp slap to the face. A red mark was left on her face from one of the men who was in charge of herding us all onto a large platform.

As the bidding started the younger less used Elves were sold first. It broke my heart, or what was left of it, to see my own niece being sold like a common heifer. Now that I knew my family still lived I suddenly had a will to live. I lifted my head up a little bit and straightened my shoulders. They would not break me so easily this time.

~*~

When it was my turn to be auctioned off my stomach began to turn. The prospect of having a new master frightened me. Maybe I was not as brave as I had previously thought. If Arwen and I were brought by the same man... The chances were to slim it would be impossible for it to occur. Finally the bidding was over and I was pushed off toward the edge of the stage. My new master meet me there and I silently followed him into the sea of people we were forced to wade through.

'Here, you no longer need those,' He drew the key of my shackles that bound my feet out of his trouser pocket. He took them off and slung them over to a pile of garbage that lay on the side of the street.

We walked along in silence the sounds of the marketplace surrounding us at all angles. Smells assaulted us wherever we would turn. I was soon lost among all the strange sights and sounds of the huge city I was in. My new master looked strangely familiar but I could not place his face in my memory quiet yet.

'We shall stay here for the night.' We stopped in front a large building that was obviously an inn. It appeared to be higher priced than many of the ones we had passed while walking through the town. He paid the innkeeper for two rooms one for him and another, I supposed to be for his friend or someone he would meet later on. Maybe he was not my new master, only a courier for someone else. My heart sank, he had a kind look about him.

'This is your room, milady,' with that he bowed and bestowed the key to me. I was left in wonder at his actions. As the door swung inwards my breath caught. The room was so big! It had been too long since I had been in a room all of my own. This was more than I could have ever imagined in my wildest of dreams.

I sank down on the bed and breathed in the sweet sent of new clover that the mattress had just been restuffed with. This was an answer to all my unanswered prayers that I had offered to Eru over the years of my enslavement. Then the memory of my first master came racing back to me. I let out a little scream and fell off the bed.

Before I hit the floor my new master was holding me close, comforting me in the best way he could manage. He cuddled me on his shoulder, gently stroking my hair in a paternal fashion. As we sat on the floor he rocked back and forth and I soon fell into a sweet sleep.

It was probably the best sleep I had ever had since my captivity. I allowed my eyes to focus as I woke myself up. The first thing I saw was the face of my new master in front of me. Fear sought to over take me, but there was nothing I could do about it at the moment. I had obviously fell asleep in his arms and refused to let go of my grasp around his neck so he had been forced to sleep with me. His arms were tenderly placed around my waist in a protective position as if he did not wish for harm to come to me.

From this vantage point I was able to observe his face. It was very handsome, but not too bold or defined. His chin had a stubborn set to it, but the lines around his mouth gave away the fact that he liked to smile a lot. There was a faint bit of stubble growing on his chin, though no more than a day more of growth. He had a boyish look to him, but there was something else there too. A source of regality and pridefulness that was visible in his deep grey eyes.

I had to do a double take. The man was sleeping with his eyes open in an Elvish fashion. Try as I might I could not see the tips of his ears. I was almost desperate to know if he was of Elvish blood or not. Then a light breeze blew through the window and moved his light brown hair back from his ear, just enough that I could see that it was slightly pointed; not enough to be of full Elvish blood, but at least a half elf. My breath caught and he awoke suddenly from the peaceful slumber he had been wrapped in.

Immediately I lowered my eyes so that he would not see that I had been looking at him while he slept on. I felt a finger raising my chin, his eyes seemed to look into my very soul. His face was getting closer and closer to mine, suddenly he was kissing me. It was the sweetest kiss I have ever experienced. He was not trying to take control he just kissed me. That is the only way I can explain it to you.

'Are you better this morn, milady?' He smiled down at me with a boyish look in his eye.

'Yes, master.' I did not say anymore for it was not considered proper for a slave to be friends with their master. We were taught to say as little as possible. But I could not help wondering why he addressed me as 'milady.' That was the last thing I was. Was this some kind of cruel trick they used to get your confidence I wondered?

'You look like you could use some breakfast. I will have them bring something to your room.' He rose from the bed and started towards the door then turned. 'When you are done, please come to my room. I have something for you.' Without another word he turned and walked out.

Breakfast was brought to me. My eyes grew wide as I looked at what was before me. Eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, biscuits, and lots more. Not since living in Lorien had I ever had this much to eat. For many years I learned to do without food for weeks at a time. I could not even eat half of the breakfast there was far too much.

I was soon finished and quickly washed my face and hands with the water that had been left for me in the basin by my bed. Then I hurried into my new master's room as he had told me to do after breakfast. I timidly knocked on the door and waited for him to answer. When the door opened my new master was standing there, obviously in the middle of shaving. Shaving cream was smeared all over his face, making him appear older than he actually was. He stepped back to make room for me to enter.

'Have a seat,' he pointed to a chair and I sat. 'I'll be with you in just a minute. If you will excuse me.' He went back to shaving and finished in record time without nicking himself once. I had to wonder why he could grow a beard and no Elvish men could ever manage to grow a bit of facial hair. Maybe it was because he was only part Elvish and not full blooded.

'We will be traveling for some time till we reach my father's house in Dol Amroth, near Belfalas it will be a long journey. Your clothing is basically rags and I can have you looking like that. Before we set off you shall have some proper clothes. This afternoon you will be fitted.'

'That is generous of you, sir. But my clothes are fine. I do not require this type of kindness from you. Please, let me serve you as you will.'

'None of us are required to be kind, and many are not. Your clothing is pathetic and you know it, milady. If I were to permit you to wear that all the way to my father's house you would have nothing left by the time we reached it. You say you wish to serve me?'

'Yes, sir, that is the reason you bought me, is it not?' I risked a glance upward. Had I already succeeded in angering my new master in the short time he had had me.

'Filthy slave trade, how I hate it. No, that is not the reason I bought you. We wish to help the Elves, for your people are the reason Arda survived.' He caught me looking at him and smiled a sad sort of smile. He was pitying me, but I did not want his pity.

'No, sir, we are not.'

'You dare to contradict me?' He questioned, but I did not catch the jest in his voice.

'No, I just.... No, master, you are right. Your will is my command.' I said humbly. This was horrible, he was so confusing. Couldn't he just whip me or do something instead of being kind to me? Was this how he tortured his slaves? By pretending to be nice and friendly then betraying them later on.

'Really? My will is you command. No, you are wrong, Lathtobeth,' he raised my chin again with his finger and smiled down into my eyes. 'You taught me an important lesson when I was young. Never judge someone by their race, you should do the same.'

'Pardon me, sir, but we have never met,' I looked away from his penetrating gaze. He could stare right through me and see my heart, hear my thoughts, and know my needs. It was terrible to go through such torture.

'Yes, we did, mellon-nin. Once long ago when you were first made to be a slave. I was the boy who's father enslaved you. Natheild is my name. You rode with me on my horse to Edoras where you were sold for the first time. Please, don't you remember me?'

I did but I did not wish to. Too many bad memories came rushing back to from that horrible time in my pathetic life. Memories of a happy time when I was naive and carefree. When Celebrian passed... Celebrian. I had not thought of her in many years. Years sprung to my eyes, I tried to hold them back but it was useless. Again he held me close and let me cry against him till all my tears were spent and I was back to normal.

A/N: Well, it looks like Lathtobeth is having an easier time of it now. Hope that it stays that way for a while. I think this is the only happy chapter I have written for this story, that is amazing! If you read it please tell me what you think of it. Flames are welcome and critical thinking too, they help me to improve the story for your enjoyment.